Compare towns
Hanson vs Webster vs Wilbraham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most expensive homes ($534k median).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Wilbraham has the most people working from home (12.9%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hanson | Webster | Wilbraham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,660Lowest |
17,748Highest |
14,572 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3 7% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA |
| Wilbraham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wilbraham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wilbraham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.6% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$122,051±$14k 17% above MA |
| Hanson and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $533,900±$36kHighest 5% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$416,000±$25k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,821±$860Highest 3% above MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA |
| Hanson and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,402 7% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$6,658Highest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.1%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Wilbraham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wilbraham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #88 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Whitman-Hanson | Webster | Hampden-Wilbraham |
| High school in town | Whitman Hanson Regional | Bartlett High School | Minnechaug Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
11.6Lowest |
14.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.